It was not because I always wanted to be a drummer!  When asked why I chose to have a lap band as opposed to going the other routes, I felt that I owed you the answer.  There were many reasons why I felt that the band offered a better choice for me.  I will outline them point by point as opposed to using my normal paragraph structure because I think that this will be easier to read.  First, however, it is important to understand that these are MY personal reasons, and my conclusions from my research on the topic.  These conclusions were what I used for making the band my choice and not to sway other people, but since I am being asked I will share.  

Weight-loss surgery is a HUGE decision and each surgery offers its own personal set of benefits and draw backs.  These are what I perceived as the benefits to the Lap-band over all other WL surgery:

1. Total reversibility – so if a magic pill comes along in 10 years through research then great!  I can still use it and my body has not lost little pieces of itself.

2. Lowest death rate

3. Lowest complication rate

4. Lap-bands are tools which teach you to eat (this was the most important to me)

5. Weight-loss is slower, healthier and this gives your skin the opportunity to came back with your body, maintain your health and adapt slowly to your new body and lifestyle (also a drawback)

6. No dumping syndrome (common with all other WL surgery)

7. Body still absorbs all the food nutrients

8. Lap-bands control the amount of food you can eat, so when you eat in public, it is appropriate portions and you feel satisfied!  

9. You do not waste food by over eating so your grocery bills are significantly less (about 1/3 in my case)

10.  The lap band is totally adjustable, so even if you do not lose the weight in the expected amount of time, the band DOES NOT stretch.  This means that it keeps working for the life of the client, so you continue to progressively lose weight for as long as you need to.

11. Recovery time is significantly less

 

All this said and still I do recognize some drawbacks too, these are:

1.  Slow weight loss – which means you have to be very patient which is not easy for anyone who wants to finally be thin (also a benefit)

2. Food can stick so you have to eat very slow and in very small portions

3. When food sticks it is not comfortable to regurgitate or to have esophagus contractions

4. The idea (and it worked for me) that you can STOP OBSESSING about food 24/7!

5. Fills can be quite uncomfortable (read painful) some doctors use local anesthetic, which I would ask about if you can use the stuff!

So, there you have my reasons.  Many people in Canada and the US are having other methods of WL surgery since the lap-band is just a tool for WL and therefore the insurance will not cover it’s installation and it being maintained.  I was a self pay client, so basically, I could do whatever I wanted to do.  So far I do not regret getting the band.  The difficult things for me have been:

1. The pre-surgery diet

2. The period while my stomach was healing and I could not get filled (waiting is always very tough for me)

3. Fills hurt and my doctor does not use anesthetic and even if he did I am allergic